The joint venture is working with the DoT to develop a business case for the AUD (Australian dollars) $1.9 billion (U.S. $1.75 billion) project that “will change the face of Perth’s transport network,” according to DoT MAX Project Director David Thomas. “The project will introduce a new era of public transport to Perth. MAX will support the city’s transformation by providing a frequent, high-capacity service in the inner-north and central west and eastern suburbs.”

Essentially a modern electric light rail system, the new MAX network will be “quiet and efficient,” PB and AECOM said. “It will be built along existing street corridors and largely separated from general traffic. The project is seen by the city as a catalyst for change, being coordinated with land-use planning with the intention of stimulating revitalization and new developments along the proposed alignment.”

The joint venture team knows the project well; Parsons Brinckerhoff was the lead consultant on the previous project stage, successfully delivering all aspects of the concept design for the east-west alignment as well as managing a team of sub-consultants, and AECOM previously provided stakeholder and community engagement services for the MAX project, as well as bus rapid transit options for the DoT.

MAX is a priority project for the Government of Western Australia, with construction scheduled to commence in 2016. The first stages of the network are due to be operational by the end of 2019.